Loneliness

When you close your doors, and make darkness within, remember never to say that you are alone, for you are not alone; nay, God is within, and your genius is within. And what need have they of light to see what you are doing? Epictetus

Have you ever felt that no one understands what's going on in your life? That you don't have the words for it? That even if you could find the words, nobody would have the time to really listen? That you are on your own?

You can be in a crowd and on your own. At work and on your own. In church and on your own. In love and on your own. On Facebook and on your own. Wierd how that works. Loneliness is simply this - when you can't find a valid connection between yourself and anyone else. You can be laughing, talking, involved and yet completely cut off. On the other side of the valley. Unseen.

How does it happen? Loneliness creeps up like a shadow on a summer's day. It is not darkness but an absence of light. A slow change of perspective.

Why does it happen? You move on. You move geographically away from the people who know you. You move physically as your body changes. You encounter obstacles or challenges that others have not met. Whatever happens, you are different.

And in all of this, there's the Lord. He takes you to a secret place where only He can find you. And this is the bittersweet part. There are times, and they may be looonger than we would like, when He wants you alone. All His. Far from being alone, we are His. He does some of His best work in private.